Introduction: Are You Using 5G? And What Will Change with 6G?
The foundation of the internet services we use every day, including smartphones and Wi-Fi, is built on communication standards. Today, 5G is the mainstream standard, but around 2030—roughly four years from now—6G is expected to be introduced.
However, the traditional rule that “a new generation of communication standards arrives every 10 years” is actually beginning to change.
In this article, I will explain in simple terms why this is happening, what leading experts in the industry are saying about the reality of 6G, and what ordinary users should know. Whether you are interested in communications technology, involved in business, or simply curious about the future, this article offers useful insights.
Why the Transition to 6G Is Shifting from “Technology-Driven” to “Business-Driven”
Should next-generation communication standards continue to be driven primarily by technological innovation, as they have been in the past? Have you ever wondered about this?
In fact, the leaders of major global telecommunications equipment manufacturers have expressed their views on this very issue. The CTO of Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson made an important point about the transition to 6G.
His message was essentially this:
“The transition to 6G should be driven by business needs, not by technology.”
Hearing this, you might think, “Wait a minute. How was it done before?”
In the past, major telecommunications equipment manufacturers such as Ericsson and Nokia have led generational shifts in communication standards through technological innovation. However, it appears that this approach is changing with 6G.
The CTO of Finland’s Nokia has expressed a similar view:
“Innovation should not stop while we wait for the next generation. We should continue adding capabilities through software.”
In other words, rather than relying on the traditional approach of making major investments and replacing large amounts of equipment whenever communication standards change, the industry is moving toward a system in which new functions can be introduced flexibly and incrementally when they are actually needed.
From a business perspective, this can be described as a shift from “large-scale transformation” to “continuous, incremental improvement.”
Why Is the 10-Year Communication Standards Cycle Breaking Down? Facts and Reasons
There are several factors behind the breakdown of the traditional 10-year cycle for communication standards.
- ① 5G Is Facing Challenges in Monetization
More than five years have passed since the commercial launch of 5G. However, expanding millimeter-wave 5G requires enormous investment in infrastructure, including relay equipment and other facilities.
As a result, expectations for investment in AI are increasingly surpassing those for investment in new communication standards. - ② The Market Is Becoming Increasingly Fragmented
Technological tensions between the United States and China have emerged, and the global market has become increasingly fragmented.
② The Market Is Becoming Increasingly Fragmented
Technological tensions between the United States and China have emerged, and the global market has become increasingly fragmented.
This situation is unlikely to change with 6G. In December 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum stating that the United States should “win the race for 6G dominance,” signaling the country’s determination to maintain its technological lead. - ③ China Accounts for Around 40% of Global 6G Patents
China, meanwhile, is also advancing its 6G technology demonstrations. China has particularly emphasized that its number of 6G patent applications accounts for roughly 40% of the global total. - ④ Supply Chains Are Shifting from “Cost Optimization” to “Resilience”
Ericsson’s CEO has stated that the era in which companies could fully benefit from economies of scale through mass production is coming to an end. Instead, there is an increasing emphasis on supply-chain resilience—the ability to withstand disruptions and recover quickly. - ⑤ 6G Needs to Be Developed While Monetizing Today’s 5G
The strategy increasingly required by the industry is to generate revenue from the existing 5G infrastructure first, while simultaneously preparing for the future of 6G.
What these developments tell us is that the telecommunications industry is undergoing a major transformation—from an industry centered on technological innovation to one focused on creating business value.
Additional Information: Key Points for Readers Without Specialized Knowledge
Here’s the Key Point!
The traditional “10-year cycle” for communication standards is breaking down.
This is not simply a technological issue. It means that the entire approach to business strategy is changing.
From a corporate perspective, for example, companies can no longer simply postpone adding new functions because “developing next-generation technology is too expensive.”
In reality, however, the industry is moving toward a model in which it first seeks to generate sufficient business value from the existing 5G infrastructure.
This can be seen as a shift from the pursuit of “the newest technology” toward the pursuit of practical value. In the workplace, it is similar to recognizing that “large-scale reforms are not always the most efficient solution.”
Conclusion: Rethinking the Essence of Business Through Changes in Communication Standards
So far, we have looked at how the arrival of the 6G era is changing the telecommunications industry.
In the past, this industry was driven toward the next generation primarily through technological innovation. Today, however, it is moving toward an era in which business needs take priority.
This is not merely a story about telecommunications standards. The same principle applies to our everyday lives and to business in general.
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For example, moving away from the desire to “get the latest thing” and instead developing the wisdom to select and make effective use of what we actually need is a principle that applies to almost every industry.
Likewise, shifting from a focus on cost optimization toward greater emphasis on sustainability and resilience is an increasingly important mindset in business.
The key is not to think, “A next-generation technology exists, so we should invest in it immediately.”
Instead, the important balance is to build a system that generates business value today while keeping an eye on the future.
Seen from this perspective, changes in communication standards are not simply an “industry issue.” They reveal a much more fundamental question about the nature of business.
How do we balance technology and business? How do we achieve both cost efficiency and resilience?
The people who can solve these challenges are those who are capable of thinking flexibly.
In our daily lives, it is important not to chase every new thing, but to develop the ability to identify the value that we actually need.
At the same time, we need to consider investment in the future while continuing to generate revenue today.
That mindset is a quality that will be required in every era.
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The Core Message of This Article
Rather than simply pursuing technological progress, the real answer demanded by the current era is to build systems that create genuine business value.
